Marie-Nicole Lemieux, C.M., C.Q. (born June 26, 1975) is a Canadian

contralto A contralto () is a classical music, classical female singing human voice, voice whose vocal range is the lowest of their voice type, voice types. The contralto's vocal range is fairly rare, similar to the mezzo-soprano, and almost identical to ...

. In 2000, she became the first Canadian to win first prize at the Queen Elizabeth International Music Competition in

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

Early life and education

Marie-Nicole Lemieux was born in 1975 in

Dolbeau-Mistassini Dolbeau-Mistassini () is a town in northern Quebec, Canada, at the confluence of the Mistassibi River, Riviere aux Rats and the Mistassini River, on Lac Saint-Jean. Dolbeau-Mistassini is in the Maria-Chapdelaine Regional County Municipality and ...

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

. In 1994, Lemieux entered the Chicoutimi Conservatoire de musique and began studying voice with Rosaire Simard. After graduating with a degree in Vocal pedagogy in 1998, Lemieux continued with postgraduate studies at the

Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal The Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal (, CMQM) is a music conservatory located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In addition to the Montreal region, the school takes in students from nearby cities, including Granby, Joliette, St-Jean ...

with Marie Daveluy. Lemieux graduated with a Masters in Vocal pedagogy in 2000.

Career

Lemieux won first prize at both the ''Jeunesse Musicale du Canada's Joseph Rouleau Competition'' in Montreal and the ''Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition'' for Opera in Brussels in 2000. Lemieux also took second prize in the separate competition for Lieder at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition. Lemieux's success was followed by invitations to perform and/or audition with many orchestras and opera companies. Lemieux has done concert and recital work with the

Los Angeles Philharmonic The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. The orchestra holds a regular concert season from October until June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from ...

Montreal Symphony Orchestra The Montreal Symphony Orchestra () is a Canadian symphony orchestra based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The orchestra’s home is the Montreal Symphony House at Place des Arts. History Several orchestras were precursor ensembles to the curren ...

Orchestre National de France The Orchestre National de France (; ; abbr. ONF) is a French symphony orchestra based in Paris, founded in 1934. Placed under the administration of the French national radio (named Radio France since 1975), the ONF performs mainly in the Grand ...

, Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre symphonique de la Monnaie, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, The Academy of Ancient Music, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra,

Les Musiciens du Louvre Les Musiciens du Louvre (literally ''The Musicians of the Louvre'') is a French Historically informed performance, period instrument ensemble, formed in 1982. Originally based in Paris, since 1996 it has been based in the Couvent des Minimes de Gre ...

, the

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is a British orchestra based in London. One of five permanent symphony orchestras in London, the LPO was founded by the conductors Thomas Beecham, Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a riv ...

, the

Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin The Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO) is a German broadcast orchestra based in Berlin. The orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families ...

, Ensemble Matheus, Les Violons du Roy,

Ensemble orchestral de Paris The Orchestre de chambre de Paris (OCP) is a French chamber orchestra based in Paris. The orchestra performs throughout Paris with concerts at the Philharmonie de Paris, where it is a resident ensemble, and also at such venues as the Théâtre des ...

, Modo Antiquo, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, St. Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra,

, The

National Arts Centre Orchestra The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC Orchestra) is a Canadian orchestra based in Ottawa, Ontario. The NAC Orchestra's primary concert venue is Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. Since its inception, the Orchestra has commissioned more ...

in Ottawa, the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, the

Toronto Symphony Orchestra The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1906, the TSO gave regular concerts at Massey Hall until 1982, and since then has performed at Roy Thomson Hall. The TSO also manages the Toron ...

and the

Edmonton Symphony Orchestra The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) is a Canadian orchestra based in Edmonton, Alberta. As the professional orchestra of Alberta's creative capital city it presents over 85 concerts a year of symphonic music in all genres, from classical to co ...

among others. She has sung with conductors such as Richard Bradshaw, Franz-Paul Decker,

Charles Dutoit Charles Édouard Dutoit is a Swiss conductor. He is the principal guest conductor for the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia. In 2017, he became the 103rd recipient of the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal Award. Dutoit held previous positions ...

Paul Goodwin Paul Goodwin may refer to: * Paul Goodwin (conductor) Paul Goodwin (born 2 September 1956) is an English conductor and former oboist. Oboist Goodwin was born in Warwick, England. He studied oboe with Janet Craxton. Following his graduat ...

, Bernard Labadie, Sir

Neville Marriner Sir Neville Marriner, (15 April 1924 – 2 October 2016) was an English conductor and violinist. Described as "one of the world's greatest conductors", Gramophone lists Marriner as one of the 50 greatest conductors and another compilation ra ...

Kurt Masur Kurt Masur (; 18 July 192719 December 2015) was a German Conducting, conductor. Called "one of the last old-style maestros", he directed many of the principal orchestras of his era. He had a long career as the Kapellmeister of the Leipzig Gewand ...

Marc Minkowski Marc Minkowski (born 4 October 1962) is a French conductor of classical music, especially known for his interpretations of French Baroque works. Minkowski was musical director of Mozartwoche in Salzburg, Austria, from 2013 to 2017 and was gene ...

Kent Nagano Kent George Nagano (born November 22, 1951) is an American conductor and opera administrator. Since 2015, he has been ''Generalmusikdirektor'' (GMD) of the Hamburg State Opera (until 2025). Early life and education Nagano was born in Berkeley, ...

, John Nelson,

Gianandrea Noseda Gianandrea Noseda (born 23 April 1964) is an Italian conductor. He is currently the music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C.; general music director (''Generalmusikdirektor)'' of Zurich Opera; principal guest condu ...

, Peter Oundjian,

Michel Plasson Michel Plasson (born 2 October 1933, Paris, France) is a French conductor. Plasson was a student of Lazare Lévy at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1962, he was a prize-winner at the International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors. ...

, Federico Maria Sardelli, Michael Schonwandt,

Marc Soustrot Marc Soustrot (born 15 April 1949) is a French classical conductor. He was the music director of the Orchestre national des Pays de la Loire from 1976 to 1994, and from 1995 to 2003 GMD of the Beethoven Orchester Bonn which plays in both opera ...

Yoav Talmi Yoav Talmi (; born April 28, 1943), is an Israeli Conductor (music), conductor and composer. Biography Yoav Talmi was born in Kibbutz Merhavia (kibbutz), Merhavia. He studied Musical composition, composition and orchestral direction, first in ...

, Ilan Volkov and

Pinchas Zukerman Pinchas Zukerman (; born 16 July 1948) is an Israeli-American violinist, violist and conductor. Life and career Zukerman was born in Tel Aviv, to Jewish parents and Holocaust survivors Yehuda and Miriam Lieberman Zukerman. He began his musica ...

among others. She frequently performs

Baroque The Baroque ( , , ) is a Western Style (visual arts), style of Baroque architecture, architecture, Baroque music, music, Baroque dance, dance, Baroque painting, painting, Baroque sculpture, sculpture, poetry, and other arts that flourished from ...

opera, including operas of

Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

and

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, impresario of Baroque music and Roman Catholic priest. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lif ...

. She has received praise for her stage presence and communicative power. In 2002, Lemieux made her professional operatic debut in the role of Cornelia in

's ''

Giulio Cesare ''Giulio Cesare in Egitto'' (; ; HWV 17), commonly known as , is a dramma per musica (''opera seria'') in three acts composed by George Frideric Handel for the Royal Academy of Music in 1724. The libretto was written by Nicola Francesco Haym ...

'' with the

Canadian Opera Company The Canadian Opera Company (COC) is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and one of the largest producers of opera in North America. The COC performs at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performin ...

. In 2003, she participated in a Jeunesses Musicales Canada tour in Quebec. In 2005, she made her debut with the

Staatsoper Berlin The Staatsoper Unter den Linden ( State Opera under the Lime Trees), also known as the Berlin State Opera (), is a listed building on Unter den Linden boulevard in the historic center of Berlin, Germany. The opera house was built by order of Pr ...

, performing in

Monteverdi Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (baptized 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, choirmaster and string player. A composer of both secular and sacred music, and a pioneer in the development of opera, he is considere ...

's ''

Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria ''Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria'' ( SV 325, ''The Return of Ulysses to his Homeland'') is an opera consisting of a prologue and five acts (later revised to three), set by Claudio Monteverdi to a libretto by Giacomo Badoaro. The opera was first p ...

'' under the baton of

René Jacobs René Jacobs (born 30 October 1946) is a Belgian musician. He came to fame as a countertenor, but later in his career he became known as a conductor of baroque and classical opera. Biography Countertenor Born in Ghent, Jacobs began his musi ...

. Later that same year, she performed the role of Mitrena in the world premiere of

's '' Motezuma'' at the De Doelen Centre in Rotterdam.Marie-Nicole Lemieux
/ref> In 2006, Lemieux appeared as Alisa in

Donizetti Domenico Gaetano Maria Donizetti (29 November 1797 – 8 April 1848) was an Italian Romantic composer, best known for his almost 70 operas. Along with Gioachino Rossini and Vincenzo Bellini, he was a leading composer of the ''bel canto'' opera ...

's ''

Lucia di Lammermoor ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' () is a (tragic opera) in three acts by Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian-language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's 1819 historical novel '' The Bride of Lammermoor''. ...

'' with Opéra de Orange and Anna in

Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...

's ''

Les Troyens ''Les Troyens'' (; in English: ''The Trojans'') is a French grand opera in five acts, running for about five hours, by Hector Berlioz. The libretto was written by Berlioz himself from Virgil's epic poem the ''Aeneid''; the score was composed be ...

'' with Strasbourg Opera. In 2007, she made her debut with Opéra de Nancy in the title role of

's ''

'', her debut with Opéra de Genève as Polinesso in

's ''

Ariodante ''Ariodante'' ( HWV 33) is an opera seria in three acts by George Frideric Handel. The anonymous Italian libretto was based on a work by Antonio Salvi, which in turn was adapted from Canti 4, 5 and 6 of Ludovico Ariosto's ''Orlando Furioso''. E ...

'', and her debut at the

Théâtre des Champs-Élysées The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées () is an entertainment venue standing at 15 avenue Montaigne in Paris. It is situated near Avenue des Champs-Élysées, from which it takes its name. Its eponymous main hall may seat up to 1,905 people, while th ...

as Genevieve in

Debussy Achille Claude Debussy (; 22 August 1862 – 25 March 1918) was a French composer. He is sometimes seen as the first Impressionism in music, Impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. He was among the most influe ...

's '' Pelléas et Mélisande'', under the baton of

Bernard Haitink Bernard Johan Herman Haitink (; 4 March 1929 – 21 October 2021) was a Dutch conductor and violinist. He was the principal conductor of several international orchestras, beginning with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1961. He moved to Lond ...

. She also performed the title role in

's ''

Orlando furioso ''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form ...

'' at the

Edinburgh Festival __NOTOC__ This is a list of Arts festival, arts and cultural festivals regularly taking place in Edinburgh, Scotland. The city has become known for its festivals since the establishment in 1947 of the Edinburgh International Festival and the ...

. In 2008, Lemieux sang the title role in

Albert Roussel Albert Charles Paul Marie Roussel (; 5 April 1869 – 23 August 1937) was a French composer. He spent seven years as a midshipman, turned to music as an adult, and became one of the most prominent French composers of the interwar period. His ...

's ''Padmavati'' at the

Théâtre du Châtelet The Théâtre du Châtelet () is a theatre and opera house, located in the place du Châtelet in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France. One of two theatres (the other being the Théâtre de la Ville) built on the site of a ''châtelet'', a ...

, Genevieve in

's '' Pelléas et Mélisande'' at the

Berlin State Opera The Staatsoper Unter den Linden ( State Opera under the Lime Trees), also known as the Berlin State Opera (), is a listed building on Unter den Linden boulevard in the historic center of Berlin, Germany. The opera house was built by order of P ...

, the title role in

's ''

Orlando Orlando commonly refers to: * Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States Orlando may also refer to: People * Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name * Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...

'' at

De Nederlandse Opera The Dutch National Opera (DNO; formerly De Nederlandse Opera, now De Nationale Opera in Dutch) is a Dutch opera company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its present home base is the Dutch National Opera & Ballet housed in the Stopera building, a m ...

, Mistress Quickly in

Verdi Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, recei ...

's ''

Falstaff Sir John Falstaff is a fictional character who appears in three plays by William Shakespeare and is eulogised in a fourth. His significance as a fully developed character is primarily formed in the plays ''Henry IV, Part 1'' and '' Part 2'', w ...

'' at the

, and Marthe in

Gounod Charles-François Gounod (; ; 17 June 181818 October 1893), usually known as Charles Gounod, was a French composer. He wrote twelve operas, of which the most popular has always been ''Faust (opera), Faust'' (1859); his ''Roméo et Juliette'' (18 ...

's ''

Faust Faust ( , ) is the protagonist of a classic German folklore, German legend based on the historical Johann Georg Faust (). The erudite Faust is highly successful yet dissatisfied with his life, which leads him to make a deal with the Devil at a ...

'' at the Opéra de Orange. In 2009, Lemieux sang Geneviève in '' Pelléas et Mélisande'' at the

Theater an der Wien The is a historic theatre in Vienna located on the Left Wienzeile in the Mariahilf district. Completed in 1801, the theatre has hosted the premieres of many celebrated works of theatre, opera, and symphonic music. Since 2006, it has served prim ...

, Mistress Quickly at the

Bavarian State Opera The Bavarian State Opera () is a German opera company based in Munich. Its main venue is the Nationaltheater München, and its orchestra the Bavarian State Orchestra. History The parent ensemble of the company was founded in 1653, under El ...

and the

Glyndebourne Festival Glyndebourne Festival Opera is an annual opera festival held at Glyndebourne, an English country house near Lewes, in East Sussex, England. History Under the supervision of the Christie family, the festival has been held annually since 1934, e ...

, and Zita in ''

Gianni Schicchi () is a comic opera in one act by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giovacchino Forzano, composed in 1917–18. The libretto is based on an incident mentioned in Dante's ''Divine Comedy''. The work is the third and final part of Puccin ...

'' at the Opéra de Montréal among other engagements. In the summer of 2010, she performed in recital in Spain and in the title role of

's ''

Orlando Furioso ''Orlando furioso'' (; ''The Frenzy of Orlando'') is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form ...

''. In 2015, Lemieux was appointed a member of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

. In July 2022, Lemieux performed ''Saint-Saëns, Massenet'' with the Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra (OPMC) at the Prince’s Palace, Monaco. In September 2022, she performed ''Mahler: Symphony No. 2 “Resurrection”'' with the Cleveland Orchestra. In 2024, she performed at Le Printemps des Arts de Monte-Carlo, and at Bastille Opera house, in

Recordings

* 2020 – Mer(s) - Elgar, Chausson, Joncières, Erato / Warner Classics (France) * 2017 — Berlioz: ''Les Troyens,'' Erato Warner classics * 2014 – Chansons perpétuelles, Naïve Classique (France) * 2008 – Schumann: Frauenliebe Und-Leben, Naïve Classique (France) * 2008 – Vivaldi: Nisi Dominus, Stabat Mater, Naïve Classique (France) * 2006 – Vivaldi : ''Griselda'', Naïve Classique (France) * 2005 – L'heure exquise, Naïve Classique (France) * 2004 – Brahms : ''Lieder'', Analekta (Canada) * 2004 – Händel : ''Rodelinda'', Deutsche Grammophon (Germany) * 2004 – Vivaldi : ''Orlando Furioso'', Naïve Classique (France) * 2003 – Scarlatti : ''Salve Regina'' – Vivaldi : ''Stabat Mater & Concerti Per Archi'', Analekta (Canada) * 2002 – Händel : ''Cantates italiennes et autres oeuvres'', Analekta (Canada) * 2001 – Mozart : ''Requiem (version Levine)'', Dorian Recordings (U.S.A.) * 2000 – Recording of the laureates of the ''International Queen Elisabeth Competition'', Cyprès (Belgium) * 2000 – Berlioz, Mahler et Wagner, Cyprès (Belgium)

Awards

* 2008 – Opus Award, ''Concert of the Year'' (for « Marie-Nicole Lemieux, Encountering a Voice ») * 2007 – Opus Award, ''Expansion Overseas'' (Canada) * 2006 – Georg Solti Prize, ''Excellence of a Young Discographic Career'' (France) * 2006 – Belgian Press Association, ''Young Soloist of the Year'' (Belgium) * 2005 – Opus Award, ''Recording of the Year – Classical Musique, romantic, postromantic et impressionist'' (Canada) * 2005 – Victoires de la musique classique in Paris, ''Best Recording of the Year de l'année'' (France) * 2003 - Opus Award, ''Concert of the Year 2003 in Medieval, Renaissance et Baroque music'' (Canada) * 2003 – Juno Award, ''For the album « Le Requiem de Mozart »'' (Canada) * 2001 – Opus Award, ''Discovery of the Year'' (Canada) * 2001 – '' La Presse'', ''Personality of the Year'' leased by the Montreal newspaper. (Canada) * 2001 – Virginia-Parker Prize, ''Granted by the Canada Council for the Arts'' (Canada) * 2000 – Queen Elisabeth Competition : ''First prize'', ''Queen Fabiola's prize'' and ''Special prize of the Lied'' (Belgium) * 2000 – Joseph-Rouleau Prize, (Premier Prix)''Concours national des Jeunesses musicales du Canada'' (Canada)

References

External links

Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemieux, Marie-Nicole 1975 births Living people People from Dolbeau-Mistassini Singers from Quebec 21st-century Canadian women opera singers Operatic contraltos Canadian contraltos Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Montréal alumni Members of the Order of Canada Prize-winners of the Queen Elisabeth Competition Knights of the National Order of Quebec Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year – Vocal or Choral Performance winners